Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer

Name: Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer
Genre: Drama, History, Crime
Released: October 12, 2018
Duration: 93 min
Cast: Bethany Carol, Carmen Patterson, Cyrina Fiallo, Damon Carney, Darryl Cox

2018

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Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Ratings

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Gosnell

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Movie Details & Credits

GVN Releasing | Release Date: October 12, 2018 | PG-13

Starring: Bethany Carol, Carmen Patterson, Cyrina Fiallo, Damon Carney, Darryl Cox, Dean Cain, Earl Billings, Grace Montie, Janine Turner, JR Hatchett, Leesa Neidel, Michael Beach, Nick Searcy, Paula Jay Fairbrother, Sarah Jane Morris

Summary: The film is the shocking true story of the investigation and trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell - his 30 year killing spree and the political and media establishment that tried to cover it up. Originally investigated for illegal prescription drug sales, a raid by DEA, FBI & local law enforcement revealed crimes they could not have expected withinThe film is the shocking true story of the investigation and trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell - his 30 year killing spree and the political and media establishment that tried to cover it up. Originally investigated for illegal prescription drug sales, a raid by DEA, FBI & local law enforcement revealed crimes they could not have expected within the clinic.… Expand

Director: Nick Searcy

Genre(s): Drama, History, Crime

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 93 min

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Critic Reviews

William Bibbiani

Oct 20, 2018

A film that could have been taken seriously as a drama — a politically one-sided but nonetheless competent drama — devolves into ghoulish sideshow grotesquery. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Oct 17, 2018

It’s a movie finding its audience, but as nakedly obvious as its message is and as limited as its shock/entertainment/outrage value might be — the empty seats in the press gallery of the trial suggest “the real enemy” — “Gosnell” isn’t likely to change anybody’s mind. Read full review

Michael Rechtshaffen

Oct 11, 2018

The film adopts a sanctimonious tone that’s anything but subtle. Read full review

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User Reviews

masterchief247

Oct 6, 2019

This is a movie EVERY person should see. It is riveting, disturbing, and sad all at the same time. Its one of the best movies I've ever seen that struck me so hard to the core, that I don't think Ill want to see it again, but glad I saw it. Sometimes, one time is all that is needed. NotThis is a movie EVERY person should see. It is riveting, disturbing, and sad all at the same time. Its one of the best movies I've ever seen that struck me so hard to the core, that I don't think Ill want to see it again, but glad I saw it. Sometimes, one time is all that is needed. Not only was this story a cover-up by politicians and the media, its also a smear by reviewers and even movie rental stores won't carry it. Only 3 reviewers reviewed this movie and Metacritic states review score "TBD" even though 3 reviewers have reviewed it. This movie was in theaters everywhere just like Avengers, Jurassic Park, etc. In contrast, Avengers End Game has a whooping 57 professional reviews. Seems a bit biased I'd say. Why afraid to publish a score? I was lucky to rent it from a Red Box, but my huge movie rental store chain didn't have it at all in its 23 locations. Yes, its controversial, but based on true facts. See it for your own eyes and make your own interpretation, but don't let this movie go by the wayside.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

be4ucme01

Oct 17, 2018

For a pretty much unknown production company, the story was well done. Following actual police reports, interviews, etc. you see the real story of Kermit Gosnell. He is the worst serial killer in our nation's history. Regardless of any pre-conceived opinions you may have of abortion, seeFor a pretty much unknown production company, the story was well done. Following actual police reports, interviews, etc. you see the real story of Kermit Gosnell. He is the worst serial killer in our nation's history. Regardless of any pre-conceived opinions you may have of abortion, see if you can watch this film and perhaps gain a different perspective. PG-13 so any teenager should view this movie.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

BettyLou

Nov 4, 2018

‘Gosnell’ is a thought provoking crime drama based on a true story. The movie is well made with great acting and trial testimonies taken from court transcripts. The atrocities that happened at this clinic are horrific, yet almost no gore is shown. The fact that women and babies subjected to‘Gosnell’ is a thought provoking crime drama based on a true story. The movie is well made with great acting and trial testimonies taken from court transcripts. The atrocities that happened at this clinic are horrific, yet almost no gore is shown. The fact that women and babies subjected to this awful treatment were mostly low income, minorities is disturbing. The truth of this well documented case needs to be told.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Oct 12, 2018

Philadelphia has some gruesome tales in its history. Ira Einhorn famously murdered his ex-girlfriend, stored her remains in a box in a closet in his home, fled the country, was extradited after over two decades of freedom in Europe, and is now in prison for murder. Were it not for aPhiladelphia has some gruesome tales in its history. Ira Einhorn famously murdered his ex-girlfriend, stored her remains in a box in a closet in his home, fled the country, was extradited after over two decades of freedom in Europe, and is now in prison for murder. Were it not for a determined district attorney, he might have gotten away with murder.

Kermit Gosnell, were it not for a drug raid and a few determined investigators and prosecutors, might also have gotten away with murder. The story of the raid, the subsequent investigation, and the trial was codified into a gruesome book which subsequently was converted into a mercifully less horrific movie.

Although the bizarre subject matter should have had writers and producers standing in line to make a movie about it, "Gosnell" required crowd funding just to get it produced. Once it was produced, it took considerable time to get it released into a limited number of theaters. The reluctance of Hollywood to touch the subject matter, of course, was political rather than artistic. Certain stories just are not suitable for dramatization. The fine movie "Chappaquiddick" was too hot to handle until The Lion of the Senate had been dead for the better part of a decade. He was a Kennedy, don't ya know? Camelot and All That Rot. It will be interesting to see how long it will take for a movie to be made about the Monica Lewinsky story, although it has all of the elements necessary for an Oscar-worthy effort.

Gosnell was too hot to handle because the kindly old Doctor Kermit was celebrating the most sacred sacrament in Leftist theology: abortion. Filmmakers, who generally are to the left of Lenin philosophically, feared that the Gosnell story could not be told without having to depict for audiences the grim reality of what abortions entail--even abortions performed by licensed medical doctors using sterile technique in well-equipped medical facilities. They, or course, were correct. Telling the Gosnell story involves telling the abortion story, and some topics are better left unexplored.

Some movies created by Christian or conservative producers cause me to cringe because, artistically, they are third-rate: stilted acting, hokey dialogue, obviously preachy interludes, lame production values. Gosnell holds its own quite well as a work of film making. It is a compelling drama from beginning to end, with a fine screenplay, excellent acting, and respectable production values. How much artistic license was taken with the facts of the case will be revealed, no doubt, by critics looking for reasons to nitpick. However, for the record, the "people die" line--one that drew gasps from the audience--is right out of grand jury testimony, and the heartless bureaucrat who uttered it eventually lost her job as a result of her negligence.

Artistic license is taken in most films. "Hidden Figures" made a huge deal about the mathematical genius having to race across campus to another building every time she needed to use a restroom because she was African-American and was being treated condescendingly and insultingly by her white male colleagues. Unfortunately for the filmmakers, that mathematical genius is very much alive, and she revealed in interviews several years ago that none of those incidents actually occurred. So a central theme of that movie was nothing but artistic license.

I doubt any such blatant fictionalizing was incorporated into the "Gosnell" screenplay. The facts of the case are compelling enough without adding Hollywood special effects.

I am wondering if any critics will pick up on one little zinger inserted into the movie that almost caused me to laugh out loud. I happen to be a classically trained musician, so I knew immediately that somebody decided to have bit of subliminal fun. Hint: piano recital scene.

I will be fascinated to see how the critics evaluate this movie--if they even bother to review it at all--and whether the movie earns its way from a limited release to a broader distribution after this first weekend.

Time will tell. In the meantime, go see "Gosnell." It is well worth the price of a movie ticket and a couple hours of your time.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

Carnitron

Oct 17, 2018

Please see this movie. So many forces have tried to prevent it from being made, and now there is an embargo on reviewing it. But it is a well done film with a story that absolutely needs to be heard by all fair-minded people on the topic of abortion.

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

Gailrule

Oct 18, 2018

This factual story of a unethical doctor allowed to mistreat women, and ignore current law, was very well done, especially considering this polarized issue. While it's certainly not a "feel good" movie, it is well worth your time. I cringe at professional reviewers, who choose to defendThis factual story of a unethical doctor allowed to mistreat women, and ignore current law, was very well done, especially considering this polarized issue. While it's certainly not a "feel good" movie, it is well worth your time. I cringe at professional reviewers, who choose to defend their personal Pro Choice belief, and totally miss and ignore the point, that this disgusting "treatment" of women should never be allowed or condoned for any reason. Reviewers even attempt to suggest, that main characters are biased, and shouldn't be allowed to show any feeling based on their experience prosecuting this murderer. Name one movie about a serial killer, where the main characters weren't personally affected by the acts of the criminal. The fact that this actually happened in the US is unconceivable and shameful, no matter where you stand on the Pro Choice vs Pro Life spectrum. At least the Cosnell jury got it right. This "doctor" should never have been "practicing" medicine, his clinic should have been shut down immediately, saving countless women, as well as viable babies, from this disgusting medical "treatment". His man was a serial killer, thinly disguised as a man of medicine. "How did this ever happen in the US?", and "How do we stop this from ever happening again?", are the important questions that every person should be asking themselves after seeing this film. It's a story worth consideration.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

Noahboy

Jul 29, 2019

It is poorly shot, is the opposite of subtle, and preaches directly to the choir rather than giving an actual recounting of events. The agenda of this movie is very clear withing the first few minutes. (I hate using the word "agenda," but there's really no other word available to describeIt is poorly shot, is the opposite of subtle, and preaches directly to the choir rather than giving an actual recounting of events. The agenda of this movie is very clear withing the first few minutes. (I hate using the word "agenda," but there's really no other word available to describe what this movie is obviously trying to convey.) Comparing all abortion doctors to this man is straight up misleading.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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